A German businessman found dead in Thailand shredded inside a freezer. The body of Hans Peter Walter Mack, 62, was found by police on Monday afternoon after an extensive search.

Officers said the real estate agent’s head, torso and limbs had been severed and placed in plastic bags in the freezer. A chainsaw, ropes, a vacuum cleaner seal, water and bottles were also found at the scene.

Mack disappeared after a meeting with a German broker to discuss the sale of a villa with a swimming pool and a boxing ring on the 4th of July.

Police Major General Theerachai Chamnanmor, commander of Provincial Police District 2 of the Investigation Department, said: “We have requested arrest warrants for the suspects.”

The body was taken to the Forensic Institute of the Police General Hospital for an autopsy, while the freezer was kept at the Nong Prue Police Station.

The discovery comes after a tip-off from a Thai couple who claimed they had been hired to move the freezer to the pool villa.

Officers reviewed CCTV footage and spotted a lorry driven by a foreigner carrying the device wrapped in plastic and black tape. He had driven about 90 miles in Chonburi province before leaving the freezer at the home where it was found.

Investigators they believe it was extortion as Hans was found to have withdrawn two million THB from his bank account before his death.

The deputy head of the National Police, General Surachate Hakparn, said: “The case involves assets. The offender appeared to be aware that Mr Mack had assets. The officers need to find out if the attacker knew Mr Mack personally.”

Hans lived with his Thai wife Piraya Boonmak, 24, for five years in Pattaya. He had two sons from his previous wife. He was reported missing on July 5 when he did not return home.

THE family offered a reward of 3 million baht for information which would lead to his return. His ex-wife said she received a suspicious message before his disappearance, as they had not exchanged messages in five years.

Mack’s Mercedes-Benz E350 was found several days later in an upscale settlement popular with foreigners. The interior of the car had been wiped down with cleaning solvent “to destroy evidence”.

Police say they are looking for several suspects.